Holt, Hill and Haukoulua Sign Football Scholarship with Four-Year Programs

For second time in four weeks, three Allan Hancock College football players have committed to play at four-year colleges. Elijah Holt, Isaiah Hill and Emose Haukoulua were honored Wednesday during a signing ceremony inside Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.

"I am extremely proud of these three young men," said head coach Kris Dutra. "As cliché as it sounds, they are proof good things happen to good people, and hard work pays off. Now they are going to represent the Hancock family at the next level."

Holt signed with Southern Utah University, the reigning champion of the Big Sky Conference. The Thunderbirds have qualified for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in two of the last three years. Defensive coordinator Demario Warren was named the program's head coach earlier this year after Ed Lamb departed to become an assistant coach at Brigham Young University.

"My second year I just put in extra work because I knew I had a lot of potential. So it feels great to have the hard work pay off," said Holt, who plans to major in criminal justice at SUU. "I can't wait to go out there and show them what I have to offer. They like my athleticism and the fact that I can play cornerback and return kicks."

Holt was an All-Conference kick returner and defensive back his sophomore season at Hancock. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate averaged 23 yards per kickoff return, and a state-best 26.4 yards per punt return last fall. He returned two punts for touchdowns last year. Holt also made 31 tackles, broke up nine passes and intercepted a team-best three passes.

Hill, a defensive lineman, and Haukoulua, an offensive lineman, both committed to McPherson College. The Bulldogs compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, and are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). McPherson is coming off a 0-10 season under first-year head coach Paul Mierkiewicz.

Hill played in eight games as a sophomore for Hancock and finished with 30 tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate had 59 tackles, seven sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss his freshman season for the Bulldogs.

"To continue playing is something I didn't imagine was possible," said Hill. "I had some injuries throughout my career so I didn't know if I'd have the opportunity to play. Kansas offered me and I accepted. It's another two years at least that I can play and I have an opportunity to get my degree. I couldn.t be happier."

The recreation management major said he was proud to represent the Bulldog family at the next level.

"The coaches did so much for me here and stayed with me along the way. They always told me to stay with what I know, work hard and they were right," said Hill.

Haukoulua came to Hancock from Fiji. The electrical engineering major suffered an injury early in the season, but he worked hard off the field for the opportunity to continue his playing career in Kansas.

"It leaves me speechless," said Haukoulua. "I didn't expect this, but hard work really pays off. I'm extremely grateful for what Hancock has done for me. They've helped me keep my grades up, getting looks from schools and getting a chance to move on."